Nexon has launched Blue Archive’s fifth anniversary update, introducing 200 free recruitments, a 3-Star Fest Student Choice Ticket, two new main story chapters and a limited-time summer event. The update went live on November 10, 2026, following scheduled maintenance and is available on PC through Steam, Android and iOS.
The anniversary celebration brings substantial recruitment rewards alongside new playable content and character progression opportunities. Players can obtain up to 200 free pulls before November 17, select an eligible Fest student and participate in special events offering Pyroxenes, upgrade materials and additional characters.
The 200 Free Recruitments Event runs until November 17 at 01:59 UTC. Players receive an initial allocation of 110 recruitments after the update, with additional pulls becoming available throughout the following days. All 200 will be available by November 15 at 19:00 UTC.
Unused daily allowances accumulate, meaning players who log in later can still access previously distributed pulls. However, the free recruitments must be used on eligible Pick-Up Recruitment banners before the event ends. They cannot be saved for the subsequent Fest Recruitment period.
Another major anniversary reward is the Special Fest 3-Star Student Choice Ticket. Players who log in during the qualifying period ending December 8 can receive a ticket allowing them to select one character from a lineup of 13 Fest students.
The selection includes characters such as Wakamo, Mika, Hina (Dress), Shiroko*Terror, Rio and Kei. The ticket remains usable until December 15, giving players additional time to decide which eligible student to recruit.
Blue Archive’s anniversary update also introduces Main Story Act 2, Volume 1: Flame and Shadow, with two chapters available immediately.
Chapter 1, Glory to Gehenna!, follows the newly established Gehenna Revival Committee as it attempts to restore order at Gehenna Academy. Chapter 2, As We Become the Flame, continues the narrative with a focus on the academy’s third-year students.
Alongside the main story, Nexon has introduced the limited-time event Set Sail! Pandemonium Ship: Chair Makoto’s Lux Summer Getaway! The storyline follows the Pandemonium Society on a summer trip that takes an unexpected turn when its planned luxury cruise becomes a voyage aboard a small fishing boat.
The event includes story missions, challenges and a World Crab Martial Arts Tournament minigame built around rock-paper-scissors encounters. Players can recruit Chiaki (Swimsuit), a free 1-Star Special student, by completing the first event story stage.
Participation requires clearing Mission 2-3 on Normal difficulty. The main event runs until November 24, while its shop and reward exchanges remain available until December 1.
Two new swimsuit characters also appear in limited-time recruitment banners. Makoto (Swimsuit) is a Mystic-type damage dealer whose EX Skill targets an enemy and deals additional damage based on nearby opponents. Satsuki (Swimsuit) is a Sonic-type healer capable of restoring HP to herself and an ally, with a Sunscreen mechanic that provides further healing and increases her attack after accumulating three stacks.
Both recruitment banners remain available until November 17. They will be followed by the anniversary Fest Recruitment period, running from November 17 through November 24 and featuring Iroha (Swimsuit), Ibuki (Swimsuit), Rio and Neru (School Uniform). During Fest Recruitment, the overall 3-Star acquisition rate increases from 3% to 6%.
Nexon has also revised Blue Archive’s recruitment system. The new Recruitment Charge mechanic introduces a guaranteed 3-Star result at 100 charges, with a 50% chance of obtaining the featured student, and a featured-student guarantee at 200 charges. Charges can carry over between eligible recruitment banners of the same category, while the separate Recruitment Mileage system provides milestone rewards.
Additional anniversary celebrations include a seven-day login campaign offering 1,200 Pyroxenes and themed furniture, alongside a growth support campaign providing resources to develop a student up to Level 90 with Tier 10 equipment.
Players can also redeem the anniversary coupon code 5YEARSWITHSENSEI for 600 Pyroxenes and five Beautiful Bouquets until November 24. Other campaigns provide Activity Reports, Credits, equipment materials and additional progression resources.
The most immediate deadline is November 17, when the 200 free recruitments and the Makoto and Satsuki swimsuit banners conclude. Players who want to use the anniversary pulls must spend them before that cutoff, even though the broader celebration and several other reward campaigns continue into December.
